Diary Of A Gold DiggerName– Charles WilliamsOrigin– Geelong, Melbourne, VictoriaAge– 37Family– Wife-Elizabeth. Son-HenryPrevious job– working on a farmTools– Pan, Shovel, Gun, PickaxePersonality– Hard working. Determined to strike gold. He is helpful when needed.
Wednesday 2nd August 1852
The news just reached me, excitement crawling into my mind. Headlines large and bold. Everything is a surprise. All the people outside are running around the lace waving newspapers in the air. Children, animals. It seems like every living thing is full of energy. Everyone is shouting, ‘Gold! Gold!’ That’s right, gold. The one and only chance for me to seek my fortune.
Thursday 3rd August 1852
It is evening now. It was hard talking to my wife, Elizabeth and son, Henry. The thing is I’m not bringing them. We only have one horse so it’s impossible. They finally understood and are letting me go. It’ll be a long journey. All the way from Geelong to Ballarat! It is worth the ride though. If I’m going to find gold, I must be prepared for A LOT.
Friday 4th August 1852
I’m about to leave now. The horse is ready, bags are all packed. Elizabeth and Henry were too sad to speak. All they said was "Take care of yourself and return safely." I know I am going to miss them dearly, but I have a duty to do and a big challenge ahead of me. Whether I strike gold or not.
Wednesday 9th August 1852
I have been travelling for five days now. The poor horse is tired. If only there was a way to get there faster, but I must remember that I have to put up with all this. It’s boiling out here and this tree is doing a hopeless job at providing shade.
Sunday 13th August 1852
Just arrived in Ballarat. It is so different to the farm. No animals, plants or large spaces of land. Instead, roads, horses and carts, shops and people rushing around everywhere. There is a lot more buisness here than on the farm, But this is just part of Ballarat. Something is telling me that when I reach the goldfields, I will get a big surprise.
Monday 14th August 1852
Today is my first day of work. It costed me about 80 pounds to buy a pan, shovel, pickaxe, and a tent. Quite expensive actually. I don’t see how they expect everyone to afford such costly things! Especially the miners licence. £10! They must be mad.
Tuesday 15th August 1852
Phew! Mining is much harder than it looks. All the men around me were cursing and swearing due to their irritation. 6 hours of continuous work has completely tired me out. Panning down near the stream has probably broken our backs. I didn’t really find that much gold. I must work harder next time! Success is my aim.
Wednesday 16th August 1852
I wish I could find a BIG nugget for once. I’m not saying I haven’t found any gold. I’ve actually found quite a bit, but... they are all small nuggets and aren’t worth very much. Most men around me also found small nuggets, but a few found big ones, which has made me desperate. The minute we saw how big the nuggets over here are, we were pushed to work harder.
Tuesday 22nd August 1852
We are all having a rest near the tents. I never expected that we would be drinking so much tea! I guess that’s the only thing we CAN drink. Quite a lot of flour has been used to make bread. The women have been so good to us. One of them has set up a tea and bread stand, which is close to the mine shafts and is very convenient. I'm exhausted at the moment and hardly have the energy to write this. Oh, time for licence inspections, I’ll be back later.
I have just found quite lot of gold and am very happy with myself. It seems like all the hard work has paid off. I really feel sorry for one of the miners. He has hardly found any gold at all and everyone else has actually been quite successful.
Wednesday 31st August 1852
Accommodation out here on the goldfields is very different to what it’s like back at the farm. Some of us just have tents and the richer ones have shacks. Unfortunately I have a tent. It's not too bad actually and i think I can live with it for a few more months. It’s been almost a month since I came here and Time has certainly flown by quite fast. I have been very successful so far so I think I only need to stay here for a few more months.
Thursday 22nd September 1852
Oh Dear! I am in a very tragic situation. A mystery bushranger snuck into my tent and stole half my gold. I saw him leave but didn't notice the robbery until I went to by some mutton. One of my digger friends noticed him with my gold pouch running away. I have reported him but I don't think they are going to do anything about it. I wish we had a better security system around here! At least im not the only one. Three oher men got robbed the other day, and I thought I was lucky! I shouldn't have spoken so soon.
Monday 10th October 1852
Things are just getting worse. A few weeks after I reported to the police about the robbery, the bushranger found out and is searching for me. He has come past my tent many times, but luckily I managed to get away when he came by.
Diary Of A Gold Digger Name – Charles Williams Origin – Geelong, Melbourne, Victoria Age – 37 Family – Wife-Elizabeth. Son-Henry Previous job – working on a farm Tools – Pan, Shovel, Gun, Pickaxe Personality– Hard working. Determined to strike gold. He is helpful when needed.
Wednesday 2nd August 1852
The news just reached me, excitement crawling into my mind. Headlines large and bold. Everything is a surprise. All the people outside are running around the lace waving newspapers in the air. Children, animals. It seems like every living thing is full of energy. Everyone is shouting, ‘Gold! Gold!’ That’s right, gold. The one and only chance for me to seek my fortune.
Thursday 3rd August 1852
It is evening now. It was hard talking to my wife, Elizabeth and son, Henry. The thing is I’m not bringing them. We only have one horse so it’s impossible. They finally understood and are letting me go. It’ll be a long journey. All the way from Geelong to Ballarat! It is worth the ride though. If I’m going to find gold, I must be prepared for A LOT.
Friday 4th August 1852
I’m about to leave now. The horse is ready, bags are all packed. Elizabeth and Henry were too sad to speak. All they said was "Take care of yourself and return safely." I know I am going to miss them dearly, but I have a duty to do and a big challenge ahead of me. Whether I strike gold or not.
Wednesday 9th August 1852
I have been travelling for five days now. The poor horse is tired. If only there was a way to get there faster, but I must remember that I have to put up with all this. It’s boiling out here and this tree is doing a hopeless job at providing shade.
Sunday 13th August 1852
Just arrived in Ballarat. It is so different to the farm. No animals, plants or large spaces of land. Instead, roads, horses and carts, shops and people rushing around everywhere. There is a lot more buisness here than on the farm, But this is just part of Ballarat. Something is telling me that when I reach the goldfields, I will get a big surprise.
Monday 14th August 1852
Today is my first day of work. It costed me about 80 pounds to buy a pan, shovel, pickaxe, and a tent. Quite expensive actually. I don’t see how they expect everyone to afford such costly things! Especially the miners licence. £10! They must be mad.
Tuesday 15th August 1852
Phew! Mining is much harder than it looks. All the men around me were cursing and swearing due to their irritation. 6 hours of continuous work has completely tired me out. Panning down near the stream has probably broken our backs. I didn’t really find that much gold. I must work harder next time! Success is my aim.
Wednesday 16th August 1852I wish I could find a BIG nugget for once. I’m not saying I haven’t found any gold. I’ve actually found quite a bit, but... they are all small nuggets and aren’t worth very much. Most men around me also found small nuggets, but a few found big ones, which has made me desperate. The minute we saw how big the nuggets over here are, we were pushed to work harder.
Tuesday 22nd August 1852
We are all having a rest near the tents. I never expected that we would be drinking so much tea! I guess that’s the only thing we CAN drink. Quite a lot of flour has been used to make bread. The women have been so good to us. One of them has set up a tea and bread stand, which is close to the mine shafts and is very convenient. I'm exhausted at the moment and hardly have the energy to write this. Oh, time for licence inspections, I’ll be back later.
I have just found quite lot of gold and am very happy with myself. It seems like all the hard work has paid off. I really feel sorry for one of the miners. He has hardly found any gold at all and everyone else has actually been quite successful.
Wednesday 31st August 1852
Accommodation out here on the goldfields is very different to what it’s like back at the farm. Some of us just have tents and the richer ones have shacks. Unfortunately I have a tent. It's not too bad actually and i think I can live with it for a few more months. It’s been almost a month since I came here and Time has certainly flown by quite fast. I have been very successful so far so I think I only need to stay here for a few more months.
Thursday 22nd September 1852
Oh Dear! I am in a very tragic situation. A mystery bushranger snuck into my tent and stole half my gold. I saw him leave but didn't notice the robbery until I went to by some mutton. One of my digger friends noticed him with my gold pouch running away. I have reported him but I don't think they are going to do anything about it. I wish we had a better security system around here! At least im not the only one. Three oher men got robbed the other day, and I thought I was lucky! I shouldn't have spoken so soon.
Monday 10th October 1852
Things are just getting worse. A few weeks after I reported to the police about the robbery, the bushranger found out and is searching for me. He has come past my tent many times, but luckily I managed to get away when he came by.